Grading machine



J. W. JOHNSTON GRADING MACHINE Dec. 8, 1931.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 16 1929 Fil Dec. 8, 1931.

J. W. JOHNSTON GRADING MACHINE m 4 W Q- Filed Dec.

Dec. 8, 1931. J w JOHNSTON 1,835,057

GRADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 H ""H Il Ill Dec. 8, 1931. J w JOHNSTON 1,835,057

GRADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 JAMES W. JOHNSTON, OF"MANCHE STER,

MANUFACTURING-COMPANY, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION .IVIAINE GRADING MACHINE Application filed December 16, 1929. .Serial No. 414,299.

: This inventionrelates to grading machines tor shoe soles, heel lifts, counters, taps and other blanks of stock and particularly to the well-known Nichols type of grading ma- 5 chines shown in a series of Nicholspatents of which the ichols Patent No. 1,130,321 dated March'2,.1915, may be referred to as a characteristic example. Although of more general application the invention will be l?) herein illustrated as applied to the Nichols type of grading machine specifically described in the Cogswell Patent No. 1,726,610 dated September '3, 1929. So much of that iiachine is herein shown as is necessary to 15 an understanding of the present invention t they are applicable, will be used herein as coinplished by mechanism which makes it possible to ieed'the blanks through the machine with greater frequency than heretotore,'that is, to pass the successive blanks through the machine closer together thereby increasing the number of blanks that the machine will :handle in a given length of time. In the Nichols machines of the kind exemplified by the Nicho-ls'Patent 1,180,321 it was necessary for the graded blank to pass complctely out of the grading mechanlsm before another blank could be fed into the machine." It jwaslthe exit of a blank from the machine which effected the opening of the gate that controlled the feeding-in of an other blank to the machine. In later deveiopments as shown, forexample, in said Cogswell Patent 1,726,610 the speed of production of the machine was increased by means ola trip member located just in advai'meof the grading mechanism and actuated li -y the advance or leading end of the blank Just before it entered the grading mechanism to openthe gate at the entrance end m of the machine and permit the feeding-in of a succeedingblank before the precedmg blank had left the grading mechanism. The same trip also operated the stamping mechanism and the feeding mechanism. While this increased the number of blanks which could be passed through the machine in a given time, there still remained considerable space between successive blanks, and as the trip which controlled the admission ofranother blank to the machine was actuated by the advance end of the blank in the machine, there was necessarily a. greater distance'between successive short blanks than between long blanks.

lVith the present invention the trip for controlling the admission of a succeeding blank and for feeding the latter into the machine is close to the detecting rolls and is operated to permit the succeeding blank to be fed in by the rear or followingend of the blank already in the machine almost immediately after the latter blank leaves the detecting rolls. By this device not only does each succeeding blank follow the next prcceding blank through the machine at a shorter interval of time and in closer spacing than has heretofore been possible, but the same distance or spacing will be preserved bet-ween blanks of all sizes since the admis sion of a succeeding blank is governed by the following or trailing end of the preceding blank rather than by its leading or advance end, and therefore the spacing be tween successive blanks is maintained uniform irrespective of their length. Thus with the present invention a new blank is fed into the machine almost immediately after the preceding "blank has left the de tecting rolls without waiting for the preceding blank, or its advance end at least, to pass the length of the machine before actuating a trip which admits a succeeding blank.

A further feature of the invention is a'lock for the grading mechanisms which is controlled by the same trip which controls the admission of the succeeding blank and is held inoperative while a blank is passing through the detecting rolls but is locked immediately after the blank leaves the detecting rolls and remains locked until it is unlocked by the next NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO LACENE succeeding blank immediately after entering the detecting rolls.

7 described;

' A further feature of the invention is a novel mechanism'for actuating the stamping or marking device controlled by the skiving or feeding rolls at the outgoing end of theillustrate a preferred embodiment of the in Fig. 5 is avertical section on line 5-5 of i Fig. 6 is a detail in front elevation and on an enlarged scaleof a pair of the wedge 'blocks hereinafter referred to; and

Fig.7 is a detailin front elevation and on an enlarged; scale of part of the new locking mechanism.

,I As already st ted the gradingmachine selected for illustrating the present invention is the/same iir its general construction as that shown in the Cogswell Patent No. 1,726,610,

and said pa'tent is incorporated hereinby referencefor a fuller description of certain details which need not be here repeated in order to understand the present invention.

I Referrin'g tothe drawings, 1 represents the main shaft carrying at one end a pulley3 by which the shaft may be continuously driven I in thedire ction of the arrow Shaft 1 extends acrossto. the opposite "sideof the machine where it has fixed on it a pinion 4t meshing with an intermediate gear 5 to drive two gears 6,:and7 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The gear 6 is fast on one end of a shaft 8 which extends across the machine and has loosely and slidably mounted upon its opposite end a clutch pinion 9 (Figs. 1 and 3) provided 011 itsouter face with teeth 10 constituting one member of afclutch, whose other member 11 is: fixed. to and rotates continuously with the shaft 8 is provided with teeth 12 tocoo, )eratewith the teeth of they pinion-clutch member 9. The pinion clutch member is yieldingly urged by a spring, not shown, to

wardtherotating member ll. The inner end of the pinionclutch member 9 is provided Withasturl or pin lt (Figs. 1, 2 and 3 )'w ,hich cooperates with a shipper in the form .of. a cam arm '15 p'iyotally mounted at 16 on the frame of the machine. With the parts in. the

position shown theshipper through its engagement; with ipin lais holding the pin ion clutch melfnber v 9 out of engagement with the clutch member 11, in which condition the shaft 8 .will rotate idly and. no stockwill be fedv into the machine 1 the-feeding mechanism which is actuated through 'the clutchas presently willbedescribed. If,however, the.

shipper 15 is raised against the tension of f spring 24 (Fig. 2) until it clears stud 14:, the

spring pressed clutch pinion 9 will be let into engagement with'the clutch member 11.; 6 When the clutch member 9 is in engagement with the constantly rotating clutch member 11 it acts through an intermediate pinion 25 (Fig. 2) to drive a pinion 26 which is fast-on shaft 27 j ournalled on the frame of r the machine. Fixed to the inner end of shaft 27 is a crank arm 28 (Fig. 3) connected by a link 29 with a feed slide (not'shown) which is reciprocated by the rotation of the crank arm 28 to feed the soles or blanksone by one from the bottom of astack of blanks S held within the magazine H, as more fully de-- connectedbya crossbar Owen; 37 fastened to' their'under sides; LA pairof bell-crank levers .45 engaging-the under side of yoke fulcrumed on the frame of the machine and having their depending arms ,connt'zcted by. a spring'ffi, yieldinglysupport the lower detecting roll 33 and tend to press the same upward, I I

The upper detecting roll 32 is mounted on shaft at? to one end of which is fixed-the con tinuously rotating gear 7. The two shafts 4-8 and of the detecting rolls are connected by gears 49 and are thereby rotated together. The continuously. driven main shaft 1 also carries a sprocketwheel which is connected by a chain with a sprocket wheel 61 fast on a stud shaft projecting from the frame of the machine. A pinion on sprocket 61 drives a gear 63 fast on shaft 6 extending across the machine. shaft 64: is. a sprocketfor driving the usual feed chain indicated in broken lines at 50 (Fig. Thus the feed chain 5O is continuously driven and carries blanks from the feeding and detecting rolls32, 33, to the skiving and feeding rolls 67 and 68. The skiving rolls 67 and 68 carry the blanks past a stationary knife b1ade7'1. The lower skivi'ng roll 68. is continuously driven from main shaft 1 through pinion 72 fast on the main shaft and gear 73 fast on shaft, 74; of the lower. skiving roll 1). ,The shaft75 of the upper skivingroll 67 is also continuously driven from the main shaft 1 by gearing. 76, 77, 78.

Both rolls 67 and 68 are journaled in journal boxes which are mounted to slide in vertical waysin the frame of the machine. The lower roll 68' is supported'by heavyzsprings 176; and the journal boxes 158 of theupper Near the middle of the wedges 156 on the under side of a slide bar 155 mounted to move crosswise of the frame of the machine.

The slide bar 155 is automatically adj usted as usual in response to the measurements of the blanks as determined by the detecting roll 33, to vary the extent of possible upward movement of the upper skiving roll 67 when a blank passes between rolls 67 and 68. A blank passing between rolls 67 and 68 will first lift the upper roll 67 until its abutment wedges 157' seat against the abutment wedges 156 of the slide bar 155, after which the lower roll 68 will yield clownwardly against the pressure of its springs 176 more or less according to the amount of stock that is to be cut off from the under side of the blank by the knife 71.

The adjustment of the slidebar 155 not only determinesthe adjustment of the skiving devices, but also of the marking or stamping wheel 175 through a link 188 connected at one end to the slide bar and at the other end to a gear segment 186 which meshes with a pinion fast on the shaft of the marking wheel 175. The marking wheel 175 and gear segment 186 are mounted on a vertically movable slide 185 which is thrust downwardly to perform the stamping operation by an arm 189 (Figs. 1 and 5) actuated by spring 191.

The setting or transmitting mechanism by which the measurements or thickness detections as determined by the detecting roll 33 are transmitted to the slide bar 155, and so to the grading devices (that is, the skiving or evening device and the marking wheel), is the same as in .said Cogswell Patent No. 1,726,610.

The passage of a blank between the detecting rolls 32 and 33' causes the lower roll 33 to move up and down, the thickerparts of the blank depressing the roll 33 and the thinner parts permitting it to rise under the influence of spring 47 (Fig. 3). This detecting or measuring movement is transmitted through the usual lever 133 to the rock shaft 139 and thence to the slide bar 155 by mechanism fully described in said Cogswell Patent No. 1,726,610. It will be understood that grading machines of this kind grade the blank being measured by the detecting rolls but permits the rock shaft to turn in a counterclockwise direction in response to successively thinner spots encountered in the blank.

In front of the detectin rolls 32 and 33 there is the usual. gate 51 I01 governing the admission of blanks to the detecting rolls, pivoted at 52 on the frame of the machine and connected by a link 53 with an arm 54; fulcrumed on a stud and carrying at its opposite end a pawl 165. W hen therear or trailing end of a blank passes out from under gate 51. the gate drops to the table and acts through link 53 and arm 51 to set pawl 165 into ratchet 163, thus acting in conjunction with pawl 166 to lock the rock shaft 139 against movement in either direction.

The parts thus f 2r described and their operation are substantially the same as more fully shown and described in said Cogswcll Patent No. 1,726,610, to which reference is hereby made for further details and a fuller explanation. As these warts do not of themselves constitute the present invention but already exist in the prior art, it is not necessary to describe them more fully herein, the general c'mstruction of the machine having been suilicicntly indicated to make clear the application thereto of the novel features of the present invention.

In the machine of said Cogswell Patent No. 1,726,610 the reciprocating feeding slide for feeding blanks from the hopper H into the machine, actuated by the link 29, was

contn'ill'ed by a trip (89 in said patent) in the path of the blanks at the rear of the machine near the grading mechanisms (skiving devices and stamping wheel). When this trip was depressed by the forward or leading end of a blank passing through the machine, it caused the clutch members 9 and 11 to engage and actuated mechanism to open gate 51 and feed another blank into the machine. The same trip also caused the stamping wheel to make its stroke and stamp the appropriate grade mark on the blank which actuated the trip. With this construction, as the feeding in of a succeeding blank is controlled and timed by the leading end of tl e preceding blank when it approaches the rear end of the machine, there was a substantial loss of time between the start of successive blanks; and said loss was greater between short blanks than long blanks since successive blanks were fed in at uniform intervals of time determined by the passage of the leading); ends of the blanks and consequently the distance between the following or trailing end of each blank and the leading end of the succeeding blank was greater with short blanks than with long blanks.

In order to increase the output of the machine, that is, the number of blanks passed through the machinein a given period of time, without increasing the running speed of the machine, and to preserve the same distance or spacing "between blanks of all sizes, I have invented a novel tripping mechan sm which controls the feeding inof each succeeding blank from the trailing or following end of the preceding blank immediately after leaving the detecting rolls, thus not only'causing each succeeding blank to be fed into the detecting rolls'at a shorterinterval of ti me after completion of the measurement of the preceding blank, thereby. increasing the rate of production of the machine, but

also insuring a uniform spacing between the following end of a preceding blank and the leading end of the next succeedlngblank 1rrespective ofthesize of the blanks.

This trippingmechanism includes a trip member a (best shown in side elevation in Fig. 1) carried. by an arm a, pivoted at a to the usual hold-down shoe 92 which presses It-heblanks against the food chain 50. tripe 1S ad ustable on the arm a by means ofthe slot and bolt connection a a. It is The preferably close to the'detecting rolls 32, 33

and is on the delivery side thereof and in the path of the blanks,'and the front edge of tripe is beveled or inclined at e to cause it tori-de up onthe advance end'of each blank emerging from between rolls 32, 33;

The trip a normally rests by gravity on bed; plate '91 of the machine. Extending crosswise of the machine andresting'on top a: oflever a is a lever b, pivoted to themachine frame at b. "The free end of lever Z) 1s curved or bent downwardly and connected I to the frame by a tension spring which wlien there is no blank in it to elfect the feeding autoinatically,a hand lever 0 (Figs.

normally urges the lever downwardly. A

notch or shoulder b on the end of lever b engages the top of one arm of lever o, pivoted to the side of the machine frame at c. A latch arm (Z is pivoted to the other arm of lever, 0. Near its lower end the latch arm cl 5 is provided with a tooth d which normally rests against a stud (Z on the shipper arm 15 but is adapted under the influence of spring (i to engage underneath the stud (Z when the latchfarm :d is lowered. The tooth cl is disengaged from underneath the stud a at the proper time by the pin lton the clutch pinion9.

In order to start the machine manually under stud d on shipper arm 15; The lever e I is then released whereupon the connee tions ust described will return to theiroriginal position,thetooth d lifting sh-ipper15 clear of the-'pin14 and allowingclutch pin- ;ion 9 to engage the continuously rotating clutch member 11; Clutch pinion-9 makes one revolution and thereby raises the gate 51, pulls down the feeding and detecting roll 33 and actuates thereciprocating feedslide the lower end of latch arm cl (Fig. 2) and so disengages the tooth '0 from the stud d permitting shipper 15 to fall andto disengage the clutch members 9 and 11' at the end of one revolution when the pin let rides up on the cam surface on the inner side of shipper 15.

The blank thus fed in "passes underneath trip a holding the latter elevated and the latch arm (Z depressed with the tooth d in position under stud (Z As soon va's'the blank passes out from under trip a the latter falls to the table, thereby lifting latch arm (Z and causing another actuation of the gate, roll 33, and feeding mechanism as just described. Thus it will be seen that another blank is fed in almost immediately after the trailing end of the preceding blank has passed clear of the detectingrolls32, 33 and without waiting for the advance end of the preceding blank to reach a trip near the delivery end of the machine, as was'necessary in said Cogswell patent.

In order to lock the slide bar 155, and consequently the skivin'g devices and stamping wheel, in the positions to whichthey have been adjusted by a blank passing between the detecting rolls, a new locking device is provided which is also controlled by trip a. As herein shown, this locking device consists of arack bar hprovided with teeth It along its upper edge, pivoted at 18 to the slide bar 155, and a fixed holding blade z' secured to the frame head of the machine. 7

The rack bar It is actuated by the rock shaft f which extends from the bracket f rearward to a bracket 2 on the othcr'fra'me head on which it is journaledat its rear end. Near its rear end rock'shaft f has fixed to it'an upwardly ext'endingarm f provided near its free end with a pin (or roller) f which engages underen'atha levercj ,fulcrmned. on

the frame of the machine at ,y". The free end of lever. 18 made with a rearwardly projecting. off-set positioned immediately below the toothed rack bar it.

Vhen the arm 9 occupies its upright position as shown in Fig; 5, its pin 7" acts through lever j to hold the toothed edge of rack bath in securely interlocked engage ment with the fixed blade 2', thereby positive ly locking the slide bar "155 (and'thegrading devices controlled thereby) against displacement. But when the trip a is raised rock shaft 7 will be turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, thus lowering lever j and permitting rack bar it to swing downwardly and disengage from the fixed blade 2'. Thus it will be seen. that when a blank is under trip a, holding it,.up, the

. locking devices it, i, will be disengaged, leaving the slide bar 155 free to respond to the measurements of the blank then passing through the detecting rolls 32, 33, and when the measurement is completed and the blank passes out from under trip a the trip will on shaft 27, and the detecting rolls will be opened or separated to receive the blank, all

fully described in said Cogswell Patent No. 1,726,610, thus admitting the incoming blank to the detecting rolls and also disengaging pawl 165 (which is controlled by the gate 51) from ratchet 163 on rock shaft 59 of the setting mechanism to leave the shaft 59 free to turn in response to successively thinner spots detected in the incoming blank.

.As soon as the preceding blank passes out from under trip 174 the other pawl 166 will also be disengaged from its ratchet 164, and will not again be engaged until the leading end of the succeeding blank reaches and lifts .trip 17 1. 46

Although the gate '51 is lifted and a. suc- V ceeding blank is introduced to the detecting rolls shortly after the preceding blank has left the detecting rolls and. before it has passed the grading devices, the grading devices will be locked by h, 2', in the adjustment corresponding to the. thinnest measurement of the blank ust' measured when the trip a drops off from the rear end of that blank and will remain so locked until the leading end of the next succeeding blank lifts trip a. By

that time the preceding blank will have en'- tered between the skiving rolls 67, 68 and will. lock or clamp the slide bar 155 immovable by the engagement of wedge blocks 156 and 157, notwithstanding lock it, i, is disengaged by theentrance of a succeedin blank.

The teeth h of the locking member I], are spaced to correspond to the width of the steps onthe inclinesof the stepped wedges 156, 157 (each step and each tooth representing a grade measurement of one-half of an iron according to usual practice) so that as the slide bar 155 is shifted endwisein response to the measurement of a blank, the teeth ofthe locking member h, which also shifts endwise with bar 155, will correctly register with the fixed blade 11 in all positions of adjustment of the stepped wedges for grading the stock to the nearest iron or half iron. The teeth 71. and also the engaging edge of the fixed. locking blade 5 are preferably made V-shapcd in order to justify or rectify the position of the slide bar 155 it it should happen to be left by the detecting rolls with the steps of the wedge blocks 156, 157 slightly out of register.

In the machi'ne'of said Cogswell Patent No. 1,726,610 as already explained, the marking mechanism was operated to stamp the grade mark on the stock by a trip (89 in said pat ent) actuated by the advance end of the blank justbefore itreached the marking wheel, and this same trip started the feeding-in of the next blank. As this trip has been eliminated by the present invention and replaced by the new trip mechanism above described, controlled by the following or trailing end of the blank, I have devised new mechanism for operating the marking device. lVhen a blank enters between. the skiving rolls 67, 68, which also feed the blank out of the machine, the upper roll 67 is lifted, and the mechanism for actuating the marking device is operated by this motion of roll 67 instead of by the trip of said former machine. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, a link 7c is connected at its upper end by a strap is to the shaft of the upper roll 67. The lower end of link 7.? is connected, with provision for adjustment, with one end of a lever arm m, fulcrumed at m on the frame of the machine. The other end of lever arm in is connected by a link a to a. bell crank p fulcrumed at p on the frame of the machine. The upper end of bell crank p engages the usual latch of the usual shipper arm by which the stamping mechanism is operated as described. in said Cogswell Pat ent No. 1,726,610. It will be understood that when shipper arm 80 is swung to the right (Fig. 2) the slide carriage 185 carrying the stamping wheel, which has been rot-atably adj nsted in accordance with the measin'ement of the blank, is forced downwardly to mark the blank by the mechanism more fully de scribed in said Cogswell patent. Thus when a blank enters between rolls 67 and 68, and

raises roll 67, link Z: is pulled upwardly, thereby pulling link a downwardly, rocking bell crank 71 to the. right, and swinging the shipper arm 80 to the right to effectuate the marking stroke of the type wheel 175.

In operation, as the incoming blank approaches the detecting rolls the gate 51 rises and the detecting roll 33 opens downwardly to admit the blank and after the blank is introduced between the detecting rolls the gate is again lowered on top of the blank and the detecting roll 33 closes upwardly against the blank. These actions take place as described in said Cogswell Patent No. 1,726,610. As

i r clamping the advaneeend of the blank emerges from between-the detectingvrolls it engages and lifts'the trip a, thereby unlockingthe locking members h and e' of slide bar 155,311Cllli18 the same unlocked as long as the blank is under trip-a. At the time the blank liftstrip a the preeedingblankwillbe between the skiving and feeding rolls 67 and (lg-thereby and locking the slide bar 155 im movable through the wedge blocks Y156 and 1.57 consequently the action of thedetecting roll 33 upon the incoming blank will notdisturb the adjustmentof the sliderbar 155 and the grading devices controlled thereby as set by and-forthe preceding blank. In operating on larger sized blanks, suchas shoe soles, the trip a is adjusted as close as possible to the deteetingrolls 32, 33, since the advance end of along blank will reach and enter the skiving rolls 67,68, in time to clamp the wedge blocks 156, 157, beforeithe next succeeding blank (which is started to be fed in when the trailing endof the preceding blank passes out from under trip (1) reaches trip a and unlocks the locking members It,

But if short blanks are being grade l th e ill.

' trip ainay be adjustedonarme to such position as to insure that the advance end of a blank passing through the machine will enter rolls 67 68 before its trailing end operates through trip a to cause the succeeding blank to lift trip a and unlock the locking members, it, When the incoming blank reaches and lifts trip 174, pawl 166 will engage ratchet 164 and hold the setting rock shaft 139 against movement in response to thicker areas inthe blank butpermitting setting shaft 139 toturn counter-clockwise (pawl 165 being held diss engaged so long as the gate rests on top the blank) in order to respond to successively thinner spots detected in the blank.- When the :rear or following end of the blank passes out from underneath the gate-51, pawl 165 will be set into ratchet 163 thus locking shaft.

139 against rotationin either direction. As

soon as the rear or following end of the blank passes out from under. trip a the locking member h will engage the. locki ng member 2' thus locking the slide bar 155 in the position to which it has just been adjusted by said blank, and simultaneously the clutch pinion 92 will be let into engagement with the continuously rotatingclutch 11 therebyraising the gate 51, openingthe detecting rolls andlstarte ing the feeding mechanism for'feedingin another blankQ The clutch pinion 9 will make one revolution and stop, as already explained, By the time said succeeding blank reaches trip' a the preceding blank will have entered between rolls 67 and 68 sothat the adjust- 'inent of the grading devices for the latter blank will be maintained by the engagement of thew edge blocks 156 and 157notwithstandinglthe succeeding blank now liftsj trip a and disengages locking ineinber IL. Tlie" instant a blank enters between rolls 67 and 63, rolls 67 will be lifted thereby actuating, the stamping mechanism through the connec v tions k, m, n andp.

, Instead of said novel mechanism for open-i ating the stamping or "marking device from the skiving rolls, the, stamp operating trip of said Cogswell Patent No. 1,726,610 may-be used, if, desirechawithont affecting the use of that part of the present invention which in eludes the new tripping mechanism for con, trolling the admission of a succeeding blank and for, locking and unlocking the grading devices. V 1

, It will be understood that if desired the machine maybe fed by hand instead of automatically, lD'Wl'llCll case the feed link 29 andtlie feed slide-or carriage actuated therebymay be omitted and the operator will shove a blank forward to the detecting rolls each time the gate 51 is elevated. In other rcspects the operation of. the machine will be the same as described. 6

, Unless otherwise required the term; grading mechanism is used herein generically as explained in. said 'Cogswell Patent N o. 1,726,610. 6

I claim: I a

1. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, 0 sponsive to the. detecting mechanism and means governingthe admission of blanks to the detecting mechanism, comprising in com; bination mechanism controlled by the trailing end of a blank after it leaves the detect; ing mechanism to operate said governing means to admit a succeeding blank to the detecting mechanism, and simultaneously to lock the grading mechanism. V

2. A grading' machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism, means governing the admission of blanks to the detecting mechanism, and ineans for actuating a feeder for feeding blanks into the detecting mechanism, comprising in combination' mechanismv controlled by the trai ing end of the blank after it leaves the" detecting mechanism and before the blank leaves themachine to operate said governing means to admit a succeeding blank to ing, ineansi'toiadmit a succeeding blank to the detecting mechanism and also to operate by the context,

rading mechanism i'esaid feed actuating means, and simultaneously to lock the grading mechanism.

4. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism rcsponsive to the detecting mechanism, and means for actuating a feeder for feeding blanks into the detecting mechanism, comprising in combination mechanism controlled by the trailing end of a blank after it leaves the detecting mechanism and before the blank leaves the machine to operate said feed actuating means.

5. A grading machine of the kind having a pair of detecting rolls, one movable toward and from the other and grading mechanism nism responsive to the movable detector roll and means governing the admission of blanks to the detecting rolls, comprising in combination mechanism controlled by the trailing end of a blank after it leaves the detecting rolls to operate said governing means and to separate the detecting rolls to admit a succeeding blank.

7. A grading machine of the kind having a pair of detecting rolls, one movable toward and from the other, grading mechanism responsive to the movable detector roll, and means governing the admission of blanks to the detecting rolls, comprising in combination mechanism controlled by the trailing end of a blank after it leaves the detecting rolls to operate said governing means and to separate the detecting rolls to admit a succeeding blank, and simultaneously to lock the grading mechanism.

8. A grading machine of the kind having wdetecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detesting mechanism, a drive shaft and a. normally disengaged member associated with the drive shaft, comprising in combination mechanism controlled by the trailing end of a blank after it leaves the detecting mechanism and before the blank leaves the machine to engage said normally disengaged member with the drive shaft.

9. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism rcsponsive to the detecting mechanism, mechanism including a trip in the path of the blank at the delivery side of the. detecting mechanism for preserving in the 'i'ading mechanism the thinnest measuremeiit of blank as determined by the detecting mechanism, means governing the admission of blanks to the detecting mechanism and means for actuating afeeder for feeding blanks into the detecting mechanism, comprising in combination a second trip located in the path of the blanks at the delivery side of the detecting mechanism and mechanism op erated independently of the first trip by said second trip when the second trip is actuated by the trailii'igv end of the blank to operate said governing means to admit a suc cleeding blank to the detecting mechanisu'i and also to operate said feed actuating means.

10. A grading machine of the kind haviu detecting mechanism and grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism con'iprising in combination locking means for the grading mechanism, and mechanism controlled by the advance end of a blank emcrging from the detecting mechanism to unlock said locking means, and by the trailing end of said blank after it leaves the detecting mechanism to lock said locking means.

11. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mccl'ianism responsive to the detecting mechanism and means governing the admission of blanks to the detecting mechanism, comprising in combination locking means for the grading mechanism, and mechanism controlled by the advance end of a blank emerging from the detecting mechanism to unlock said locking means, and by the trailing end of said blank after it leaves the detectin mechanism to lock said locking means and to operate said governing means to admit a succeeding blank to the detecting mechanism.

12. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism rcsponsive to the detecting mechanism, means governing the admission of blanks to the detecting mechanism, locking means for the grading mechanism and means for actuating.

feeder for feeding blanks into the detect-- ing mechanism, comprising in combination mechanism controlled by the advance end of a blank emerging from the detecting mechanism to unlock said locking means and by the trailing end of said blank after it leaves the detecting mechanism to lock said locking means and to operate said governing means to admit a succeeding blank to the detecting mechanism and to operate said feed actuating means.

13. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism, means governing the. admission of blanks to the detecting mechanism, locking means for the grading mechanism and means for actuating a feeder for feeding blanks into the detecting mechanism, comprising in combination a trip located in the path of the blanks at the delivery side of the detecting mechanism, mechanism operated by said trip when the trip is actuated by the advance end of a blank to unlock said locking mechanism and lliii mechanism operated by said trip when the trip is actuated by the trailing end ofthe blank to lock said lockingmeans and to oper ate said governing means to admit a succeeding blank to the detecting mechanism andto operate said feed actuating means.

14. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism, and locking means for the grading mechanism, comprising in combination trip located in the path of the blank at the delivery side of the detecting mechanism and adapted to engage each blank throughout its length,

mechanism operated by said trip when the trip is actuated by the advance end of a blank to unlock said locking. means and to hold the same unlocked solong as the trip contacts with the blank, and mechanisi'n operated by said trip when the trip is operated by the trailingend of theblank to lock said locking means.

15. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism, means governing the admission of blanks to the detecting mechanism andlocking means for the grading mechanism, comprising in combination a trip located in the path of the blank at the delivery side of the detecting mechanism and adapted to engage each blank throughout its length, mechanism operated by said trip when the trip is actuated by the advance end of. a blank to unlock said unlocking means and to hold the same unlocked so long as'the trip contacts with the blank,

and mechanism operated by said trip when the trip is operated by the trailing end of ing from thedetecting mechanism to unlock said locking mechanism and by the trailing end of said blank afterit leaves the detecting mechanism to lock said locking mechanism and to operate said feed actuatingmeans.

17. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism and means for actuating a feeder for; feeding blanks into the detecting mechanism, comprising in combination locking means for the grading mechanism, a trip located in the path 7 of the blanks at the delivery side of the de tecting 'mechanism, mechanism operated by said trip when the trip is actuated by the advance endofa blank to unlock said locking mechanism, and mechanism operated by said trip when the tripis actuated by the trailing end of the blank to lock said locking means and to operate said feed actuating means. 18. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, rading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism and meansgoverning the admission of blanks to the detecting mechanism, comprising in combination mechanism adapted tobe operated by a blank immediately upon its deli-very from the detecting mechanism to lock the grading mechanism and to operate the governing means to admit a succeeding blank to the detecting mechanism.

19. Agradingmachine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detectingmechanism and means for actuating a feeder for feeding blanks into the detecting mechanism, com-' prising :in combination mechanismv adapted to be operated by a blank immediately upon its delivery from the detecting mechanism to lock the grading mechanism and to operate said feed actuating means. r v

20. A grading mach-me of the kind having'detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanismand means for actuatinga feeder for feeding blanks into the detecting mechanism, comprising in combination locking means for the grading mechanism, atrip in close proximity to the detecting mechanism on the delivery side thereof and in the path of the blank adapted to be operated by a blank emerging from the detecting mechanism, and mechanism controlled by said trip for unlocking said locking means when a blank contacts with the trip and maintaining the locking means unlocked so long as the blank remains in contact with the tri 3, and for locking said lockingmeans when t e blank passes out of contact'with the trip, and mechanism con trolled. by said trip when the blank passes out of contact with the trip for operating said feeda'ctuating means.

- 21. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, a slide bar, means to adjust the slide bar in accordance with the detectin mechanism, and grading mecha-' nism controlled by the slide bar, comprising in combination mechanism operated by each blank upon its delivery from the detecting" mechanism for locking the slide bar in its adjusted position and for maintaining said slide bar locked until the advance end of the next succeeding blank emerges from the detecting mechanism.

22. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, a slide bar, means to adjust the slide bar in accordance with the detecting mechanism and grading mechanism controlled by the slide bar, comprising in combination a locking member movably mounted on the slide bar, afixed locking member, and mechanism Operated by each blank upon its delivery from the detecting mechanism for moving the movable locking member into engagement with the fixed looking member to lock the slide bar in its adjusted position.

23. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, a slide bar, means to adjust the slide bar in accordance with the detecting mechanism and grading mechanism controlledbytheslidebar, comprising in combination a toothed rack bar movably mounted on the slide bar, a fixed locking member adapted to engage the teeth of the rack bar, and mechanism operated by each blank upon its delivery from the detecting mechanism for moving the rack bar into engagement with the fixed locking memberto lock the slide bar in its adjusted position.

24. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism and means for actuating a feeder for feeding the blanks into the detecting mechanism, comprising in combination mechanism controlled by successive blanks passing through the machine so organized and arranged as to operate the feed actuating means to feed successive blanks into the machine each before the next preceding blank has left the machine and in uniform spaced relation between the trailing end of one blank and the advance end of the next succeeding blank irrespective of the length of the blanks.

25. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism, mechanism including a trip in the path of the blank at the delivery side of the detect-ing mechanism for preserving in the grading mechanism the thinnest measurement of a blank as determined by the detecting mechanism, and means governing the admission of blanks to the detecting mechanism, comprising in combinat'on a second trip located in the path of the blanks in advance of the first trip and mechanism operated independently of the first trip by said second trip When the second trip is actuated by the trailing end of the blank to operate said governing means to admit a succeeding blank to the detecting mechanism.

26. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism, mechanism including a trip in the path of the blank at the delivery side of the detecting mechanism for preserving in the grading mechanism the thinnest measurement of a blank as determined by the detecting mechanism, and means for actuating a feeder for feeding blanks into the detecting mechanism,

comprising in combination a second trip located in the'path of the blanks in advance of the first trip and mechanism operated independently of the first trip by said second trip when the second trip is actuated by the trailing end of the blank to operate said feed actuating means.

27. A grading machine of the kind having detecting mechanism, grading mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism, mechanism including a trip in the path of the blank at the delivery side of the detecting mechanism for preserving in the grading mechanism the thinnest measurement of a blank as determined by the detecting mechanism, means governing the admission of blanks to the detecting mechanism, and means for actuating a feeder for feeding blanks into the detecting mechanism, comprising in combination a second trip located in the path of the blanks in advance of the first trip and mechanisms operated independently of the first trip by said second trip when the second trip is actuated by the trailing end of the blank to operate said governing means to admit a succeeding blank to the detecting mechanism and also to operate said feed actuating means.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this tenth day of December, 1929.

JAMES W. JOHNSTON. 

